Celebrate the bank holiday in six ways with these savvy buys & tasty recipes

ENJOY six ways to celebrate outside with six friends this bank holiday weekend.

Whether you fire up the barbecue or simply stick a pizza in the oven, enjoy sharing some hospitality with your mates. With deals on drinks as well as food, you can raise a glass or two to the better times that lie ahead.

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Enjoy the bank holiday weekend with six ways to eat, drink and be merry with your friends[/caption]

1. Fire up the barbecue

A GRILL in the garden is a real treat as long as the weather behaves. Get two packs of Morrisons The Best eight pork sausages for £5, or £3 each. Other meats in the two-for-£5 offer include British pork loin steaks, 500g, £3.

2. Carve a Sunday roast

HAVE a traditional roast outside – just plate up inside to keep it warm. A 30-day matured British beef roasting joint at Sainsbury’s is half price, down from £12.50 to £6.25 per kilo. Also save 55p on Aunt Bessie’s 16 roast-at-home Yorkshires, £1.55.

3. Sunnier climes

IF trips abroad still feel a long way off, get in the mood with a taste of the continent. Asda’s “three dishes for £5” deal includes an Italian-inspired meats and cheese platter, £1.85.

4. Veggie feast

WAITROSE has Linda McCartney’s vegetarian sausages, 270g, down from £2.60 to £1.95, and Clive’s nut roast with £1 off, now £4.25. Serve alongside a Higgidy spinach and pine nut pie, 270g, now reduced to £3, saving 75p.

5. Pizza pleasers

FOR that takeaway taste, Waitrose now has a third off its Pizza Express pizzas. Varieties include classic American and the gluten-free margherita – now £3.33 each.

6. Slow cook a special dish

PULLED pork or beef brisket is easy on the wallet, using cheaper cuts. Morrisons has Homepride Slow Cook BBQ Pulled Pork Sauce for £1.50 or buy two for £2. Or try ready-prepared Slow Cooked Pork Ribs in Bourbon BBQ Sauce from Morrisons, £4, or two for £7. Serve with sweet potato wedges, 500g, £1.75, and Morrisons corn cobettes, £1.25 for four.

Drink it in

ENJOY your day with friends with these refreshingly good deals on your favourite beers, wines and spirits.

Save on spirits at Morrisons with selected one-litre bottles, including Gordon’s gin, down from £20.50 to £15.99.

Kopparberg lemon or strawberry and lime vodka, 70cl, is down from £30 to £17.99 at Morrisons. Casillero del Diablo cabernet sauvignon is down from £7.50 to £6 at Sainsbury’s, and part of its offer where you can buy six bottles and get 25 per cent off.

Get the bubbles flowing with La Gioisa prosecco down from £10 to £7.50 at Morrisons.

For a cool white The Ned pinot grigio is down from £9.99 to £7.99 at Waitrose.

Mix and match lager and beers with four bottles for the price of three at Asda, including Kronenbourg 1664, 660ml, £2.

Morrisons has selected big beer packs on offer including 20 x 284ml Stella Artois, now £9.99

Maple-glazed sausages with smoked aubergines and tomato

Serves six

THE maple glaze brings an intense flavour to your barbecue. Brush more on to the sausages as you cook them, to increase the intensity.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 50 minutes

YOU NEED:

• 2 aubergines
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 red onions
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 7 vine-ripened tomatoes
• 12 pork chipolatas
• 6 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tsp fresh rosemary

METHOD:

1. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Chop the aubergines in half lengthways and cut into thumb-width slices. Place in a bowl with the smoked paprika and 2 tbsp of the oil and toss to coat.
2. Sprinkle 1 tbsp of the oil into a roasting tray and add the red onions, rosemary and aubergines. Then sprinkle over the dried oregano and remaining oil. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes then remove.
3. Add the tomatoes and continue to roast for 10 to 5 minutes or ­until the aubergines are golden brown and soft.
4. For the glaze, whisk together the maple syrup, mustard and rosemary.
5. Toss with the sausages and barbecue for 15 to 20 minutes or until cooked through.
6. Then place your sausages on top of the tray of vegetables to serve.

Blazing bruschetta

Serves four

Preparation time: Five minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

YOU NEED:

• 4 slices of crusty bread
• 400g cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, 1 minced and 1 whole
• 1 handful of basil, torn
• 1 red chilli, finely chopped
• 250g ricotta
• 1 drizzle Balsamic glaze, (optional to drizzle on top)

METHOD:

1. Place tomatoes in a mixing bowl and add olive oil, crushed garlic, basil, chilli and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper and mix.
2. Toast the bread under the grill for a few minutes and then rub with the remaining garlic clove. Spread ricotta evenly across each and then top each with the tomato mixture.
3. Add the basil to garnish, a crack of black pepper and a drizzle of balsamic glaze and enjoy. With just one bite the flavours will transport you to sunny Italy!